US STOCKS-Market off in thin trade, but Fed curbs losses

NEW YORK, Nov 24 - U.S. stocks slipped on Tuesday on lackluster economic data in a session marked by low volume and choppy trading ahead of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, but losses eased after the Federal Reserve increased its expectations for growth in 2010.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 17.24 points, or 0.16 percent, to end unofficially at 10,433.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dipped just 0.59 of a point, or 0.05 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,105.65. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 6.83 points, or 0.31 percent, to close unofficially at 2,169.18. ((Ellis.Mnyandu@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223 6085;

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